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“Leo, your mom and I just want what’s best for you. The plan was always for you to stay with me for a little while and then go back home. I’ll always be a phone call away. It won’t be like before.”
Leo looks at me. “You promise?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I promise.”
He nods. “I love you, Dad. I forgot to tell you yesterday.”
The lump grows. “I love you too, son.”
Leo slides out of his chair and walks over to me. His small arms wrap around me, and I inhale his scent. He smells like a kid, which sounds stupid. But there’s something innocent and earnest about it.
He pulls back, and I ruffle his hair.
“You should finish your breakfast. You never had dinner last night, right?”
“No. I wasn’t hungry.”
“Well, if you’re hungry now, you should eat.”
“Okay.”
Once Leo’s back in his seat, I sigh. “I have to go now, Leo. Something came up with my work. And when I get back, you and your mom will be back in Philadelphia. This is good-bye—for now.”
He looks down in his bowl, then nods.
I stand and kiss the top of his head. “Have fun on the jet, okay?”
“Can you really fly it?” he asks.
I smile. “Yes. One day, we’ll fly it together, okay?”
“Okay.”
He doesn’t ask me to promise again. But if he had, I would have.
When I walk out of the dining room, Lyla is standing on the bottom step, holding the banister. Her hair is in a messy bun, she’s wearing an oversize sweatshirt, and I’m not sure she’s ever looked more beautiful.
“You heard?”
“Yes.”
I don’t ask how much, just nod. “I need to leave now. Egor will take you to the airport whenever you’re ready. The plane is on standby. And there will be another car waiting in Philadelphia to take you to the apartment.”
“Egor?”
“He’ll keep you safe.”
Her hand slides up and down the banister. “Why isn’t Viktor or Roman taking us?”
“They’re coming with me.”
“Oh.” She pauses. “Where are you going?”
“Ireland.”
“For work?”
“Yes.”
